Shaftless reeling machine



p 1959 R. P. TURNER, JR., EIAL SHAFTLESS REELING MACHINE.

Filed Oct. 30. 1957 2 Sheets- Sheet l INVENTOR. Rnbe'rt P Turner, Jr: 9

Joseph B. Herchflm-th.

' ATTORNEY p 15, 1959 'R. P. TURNER, JR, EI'AL 2,904,273

SHAFTLESS REELING MACHINE Filed Oct. 30, 1957 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Y INVENTOR. 52. Robert F. Turner, Jr. 1 doseph B. Herchslrat'hf ATTOR/Vy 2,904,273 SHAFTLESS REELING MACHINE Robert P. Turner, J12,- York; and Joseph Herchelroth, Marietta, Pa, assignors to Columbia Products, Inc., WrightsvilIe, Pa, a co'rpoiatimior Pnnsywania Application October 30, W57, Serial No: 693,288 9 Claims. (Cl. 2 42"5'4) TlIiS iilve'iitidfi relates to ifnfirdvnifif if! if Sht ifilSS reeling machine of the type used to' die relatively heavy reels of the type; for exam le; upon which cable is Wound.

Most reeling machines capable of handling heavy reels for cable and the like which have been used heretofore have included Shafts llpdfi Whili tli reels are while they are being Wound or unwound. Reels of this type, especially when fully wound or loaded with cable have a substantial weight; some of these weighing as much as a ten or niore1- Accordingly, itis necessary to provide rugged and sturdy elevating and driving mechanisni for t-he shaft upon which the reel is mounted in order that when the reel is rolled into the machiueso as to be mounted thefeinupon the shaft, the reel may be moved out of contact with the floor so that it may be revolved. The placing of such shafts in the-"reels and elevating the same not only requires heavy'e'quipment but such operations comprise a' nuisance for the operator. Reversal of these operations is-ne'cessary when the reel is loaded with cable or the like and is to be rem'ov'ed ffom the machine.

A very difiic'ult problem encountered inrreelirig ma chines concerns the ejection of a loaded feel. Mountin g an empty reel in a reeling machine is not particularlydif fi'cu-lt since the empty reel represents only a'very small fraction of the weight of aloadedreel; The reel must be elevated to clear the floor while it is being rota-ted and it must be lowered after it has been wound withca-ble or the like to a desired amount. Reels'whi'ch are to be handled by such reelingmachines are available in many different diameters and inorder that a single machine may accommodate a wide variety of diameter ofreels; it is necessary that the elevating mechanism'have-provision for vertical movement of the order, for example-,of between l and 3 feet. Providing relatively simple elevating mechanism to fulfill these requirements presents diificulties which have not been overcome inany highly satisfactory manner heretofore.- v

Inreeling machines previously devised wherein attempts have been made to eliminate the need for a shaft for the reel, problems'of slippage bet-ween the reeland the supporting rolls therefor in the machin e have been encountered, especially in machines designed to handle reels of relatively small diameter such as of the order of 20 inches or less. The weight of larger reels usually is such that slippage is minimized but whenthe machines have been arranged to accommodate reels of the smaller diameters referred to above, slippage between; the reel and the drivin'g'rolls' frequently is encountered. I

It is the principal objectof the present invention to provide a reeling machine which requires no shaft to sup= port the reelan'd the design of the machine is such that a driving' rolli and an idler r611 are rendered adjustable relative to ea'ch other to accommodate a substantial range in diameters of reels which may be accommodated by the machine, the relative adjustment between anions fig sucli that 'botheinpty and fully wtiurfd'ieels 'ofall di'anie t9? e se Qtfise mean 2,904,273 Patented Sept. 15, 19159 2 which may be handled by the machine can be loaded aiid unloaded onto and from the machine With far greater facility than has been possible heretofore.

Anether object of the invention is to provide a reeling machine in which the relative movement between the idler and driving rolls thereof accomplishes desired elevation of the reel relative to the machine and also permits th "efnoval or unloading ofloaded reels from the mae principally by permitting rolling the reels upon a tidbit surface upon which the machine is supported.

A further object of the invention isto provide means for positioning the idler roll relative to the driving roll as well s relative to the floor, when desired, said means beingoperated easily, either manually or by power s,- so as to provide the desired friction between the fee and driving roll; as well as to positionthe r lls to achieve the loading arid unloading of the reels relative to the mashing p I I sun another object or the invent-ran is to provide" a reeling machine capable er accomplishing the above dc sensed results By the use of mec raaism which is relatiyly simple to manufacture and fabricate, and' also which is rugged and durable so as to" be capable of long life even when handling very heavy fully loaded reels of large diameter. 7 v p I Halls of the foregoing objects and of the inventiori, as'w'ell as other objects mater, ahe' set forth iii the fol lowing'specifieitiofi and illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprising a part thereof.

In the drawings: p

Fig? l isa'pe'r peer-Ive illustrating a reeling ma chine embodying the principles of the present invention and showniwiui eXefnplary reel mounted therein and being rotated to coil cable thereupon.

Fig." 2- is a top plan view of the" feelin machine shown in Fig. 1-.- A

Fig. 3' is a side elevation of the r lifig rfiachirie shoWii i-n'Fi'gsr 1' 2 andillustfatirljg' several exemplary posifi'ons of'tlie idler roll respectively full and broken lines, these positions illustrating the versatility of the machine accommodating reels of various diameters. v

Fig. 4' is a. view sinn'iar' to Fig'. 3 but Showing the Slip porting means for the idler roll elevated} in full liries', to increase the friction between the" feel and driving roll, While in broken lines, the idler rem; is shown elevated adequately to permit the loaded reel re ue unlbaded from the machine by' being rolled therefrom beneath the idler roll.

Fig: 5' is a fragmentary e'rtica'l' elevation showing details of the means for elevating the auxiliary frame by which the idler roll is carried.

,Referring to' the figures, the reeling machine illustrated therein and" embodying the principles of the present irivent-iorr comprises a base frame 11) which conveniently mayrestby gravity upon a floor surface 1'2, The frame 10- may be of any suitable construction such as a pair of parallel channel menibers 141 One end of each or the channel members may be held in spaced relationship by a threshold-strip I6which may be connected thereto by weldingcr the like. The opposite ends of the channel members are held in spacedrelationship by aramp pla e 1 8 which extends between the inner faces of members 14 and is welded or otherwiseiattach'ed thereto. Extending respectively and preferably vertically from one end of channel members 14 are a pair of vertical members 20; which may be channels or the like, and are braced rela tive to the base frame 10 in several directions by angular fiectd to members 14. One end of driving shaft 26 extends into housing 30 which contains suitable power means of conventional type such as an electric motor and gear reduction means, not illustrated. The shaft is interconnected to such gear reduction means or the like in order that the same may be furnished power to otate the same. Connected to shaft 26 is driving roll 32 so as to be supported thereby adjacent the inner end of ramp plate 18, the relationship in elevation being illus trated in Figs. 3 and 4.

Associated with base frame is an auxiliary frame 34 comprising a pair of frame members 36 such as channels or the like. Corresponding ends of members 36 are pivotally supported by frame 10 such as by being connected to driving shaft 26 and the opposite ends thereof are interconnected by a cross member 38. The outer end of auxiliary frame 34 is pivotally movable in opposite directions between positions respectively substantially parallel with the floor 12 and an extreme elevated position such as shown in phantom in Fig. 4. Such movement of frame 34 is achieved conveniently by means such as a cross-bar 40, best shown in Fig. 1, which may either be fixed or rotatably connected at its respective ends to vertically slidable cross-heads 42 which are slidably supported upon the vertical members 20.

Cross-heads 42 are moved vertically in unison in either direction upon vertical members by simple and effective means comprising axially rotatable screws 44 which are supported for rotation in suitable bearing blocks 46 at opposite ends of members 20. The screws 44 preferably have the same thread pitch and are rotatable in unison by simple means such as a shaft 48 extending between and supported by bearing brackets 50 which are best shown in Fig. 5.

Bevel gears 52 respectively are fixed to the upper ends of screws 44, while mating bevel gears 54 are secured to opposite ends of shaft '48. A positioning collar 56 may be used to fix the shaft 48 in an axial direction relative to the brackets 50 but other suitable mechanism may be used if desired. Connected to one end of shaft 48 is a pulley or sprocket gear 58 by which the shaft 48 may be driven if it is desired to operate the same by motive power. Under such circumstances, the pulley or sprocket gear 58 may be connected by a belt or sprocket chain 60 which extends into housing for connection to the power means therein. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a suitable clutch 62 controls the connection of the motive power to the driving means for elevating auxiliary frame 34. If desired however, a hand wheel or crank may be substituted for pulley or sprocket gear 58 if manual operation is desired.

Slidably supported by the frame members 36 of auxiliary frame 34 are a pair of cross-heads 64 which are provided with bearings for respectively supporting the opposite ends of shaft 66 for free rotation and upon which idler roll 68 is mounted so as to be parallel with driving roll 32. Means for moving idler roll 68 toward and from driving roll 32 comprise a pair of similar screws 70 which are threaded through lugs 72 carried by crossheads 64. The outermost ends of screws 70 pass through bearing brackets 74 which are fixed to frame members 36 respectively and include arms 76 which are parallel to frame members 36 and rotatably support opposite ends of shaft 78. Fixed to shaft 78 are similar bevel gears 80 which mesh respectively with mating bevel gears 81 connected to the outermost ends of screws 70 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Connected to one end of shaft 78 is a manually operable hand wheel 79 by which the shaft 78 is rotated to effect simultaneously rotation of screws 70 in the same direction so as to efiect parallel movement of idler roll 68 toward or from the driving roll 32.

In operation of the machine, it will be assumed that a reel 82 of desired diameter is to have cable 84 wound thereon. The empty reel for example is rolled up ramp plate 18 and over driving roll 32 which is stationary at the time, so as to be disposed between the opposite frame members 36 of auxiliary frame 34, as shown in exemplary manner in Fig. 2. Under such circumstances, the idler roll 68 is moved sufficiently away from driving roll 32 to permit the reel to be positioned upon the floor 12.

If desired, however, the idler roll 68 may be in the exemplary position illustrated in Fig. 3, and under such circumstances, the reel 82 then will be supported between the driving roll 32 and idler roll 68. In the event however that idler roll 68 is spaced farther from driving roll 32 than shown in Fig. 3, the reel 82 initially will rest upon the floor 12 and, to elevate the same, it is only necessary to rotate hand wheel 79 in order to move idler roll 68 toward driving roll 32 until it reaches the position such as shown in Fig. 3 for example. Reel 82 then will be spaced from the floor and an end of cable 84 then is connectedto the hub 86. Starting means such as switch 88 then is actuated to cause rotation of driving roll 32 in the desired direction, it being preferred that the power means is reversible so as to afford rotating of the reel 82 in either direction, as desired.

In the event the reel 82 is of relatively large diameter as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 through 4 for example, the weight of the reel usually is sufficient to provide adequate friction between the peripheries of the circular side plates of the reel and the driving roll 32. However, in the event the friction is not adequate, the auxiliary frame 34 may be elevated, by actuating the screws 44 so as to raise it, for example, from a position such as shown in full lines in Fig. 3 to the exemplary position shown in full lines in Fig. 4. The purpose of this is to dispose the engagement of idler roll 68 with reel 82 as close to the line of pull upon cable or wire 84 as possible. The pull of the cable or wire upen the reel causes a reacting force of the reel upon idler roll 68. A substantial part of this resultant force by the reel also is directed against the driving roll 32 under such conditions, this being of great benefit especially in reeling cable or wire onto reels of smaller diameter and correspondingly lighter weight. As the reels begin to fill, the added weight of the cable or wire further enhances the friction between the reel and driving roll 32, whereby the initial elevated setting of (the auxiliary frame 34 and roll 32 will be adequate for the entire reeling operation. It also is possible to elevate idler roll 68 sufliciently that the cable on wire 84 will pass beneath idler roll 68, if desired.

The elevating of the auxiliary frame 34 about its pivot on shaft 26, as well as the longitudinal movement of the idler roll 68 along said frame affords two variables acting substantially in transverse directions to each other and by which the idler roll 68 not only may be moved toward and from the driving roll 32 but the idler roll also may be elevated so as to position the point of contact between the periphery of the reel and the idler roll toward or from the line of pull upon the cable 84 while being coiled upon the reel 82. By suitable use of these variables to position the idler roll 68 as desired, maximum efficiency in controlling the frictional engagement between the reel and driving roll 32 may be achieved, regardless of the size of the reel being wound with cable, within the limits of reel diameters possible to be used in the reeling machine.

In addition to the foregoing advantages concerning the rotation of the reel by the machine, a further highly beneficial result of the movability of the auxiliary frame 34 comprises the fact that when a reel has been fully wound with cable for example, rather than the machine being limited to such reel being removed only from the ramp'end thereof, it will be seen by reference to Fig. 4 particularly, that the idler roll 68 first may be moved away from driving roll 32 so as to lower the completely wound reel 82 to the floor 12, after which the idler roll 68 may be moved farther away from the driving roll 32 so as to permit idler roll 68 to be elevated to theposition shown in phantom in Fig. 4,

tpnowiag which the filled reersz may be rolled beneath the rarer ran 68 or r m vai from the machine. Load} ing of the reel into the machine, neatli idler roll 68,, likewise is possible. Hence, said machine isiniore versatile than machines previously provided which generally were restricted to the reels being loaded and unloaded relative to. the machine only from a single end,

The movement of the idler roll 68 both relative to driving roll 32 and. in a vertical direction to permit removal of loaded reels from the left-hand end of the machine as viewed in the figures shownzherein, is achieved i'e'adily and quickly by the control and actuating mechanism illustrated in the drawings and described hereinabove. Said controls preferably are positioned within close proximity to each other, whereby an operator selectively may actuate any of the controls, as desired, to cause the machine to perform the desired operations. Further, the machine may be loaded as well as unloaded from the left-hand end, as viewed in the figures, in addition to being loaded by means of ramp plate 18, thereby rendering the machine highly versatile in character. By de-clutching the driving roll 32 from the power means in housing 30 so as to be rotatable freely, the machine may be used to uncoil cable, wire and the like from a reel supported by the machine.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, and has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illus* trated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim:

1. A reeling machine for handling relatively large size reels for cable and the like comprising in combination, a base frame positionable upon a floor surface, a driving roll supported at opposite ends by said frame for rotation adjacent said fioor surface, means connected to said driving roll to rot-ate it, an idler roll mounted freely for rotation in parallel relationship to said driving roll, an auxiliary frame extending at an angle upward and away from said base frame and driving roll and adjustably supporting said idler roll for parallel movement toward and from said driving roll, means operable to move said idler roll adjustably along said auxiliary frame to vary the space between said idler and driving rolls and the positions at which the periphery of a reel is engaged respectively by said rolls for support thereby, and means supporting the outer end of said auxiliary frame above the floor a greater distance than the diameter of said reel, whereby when said idler roll is moved along said auxiliary frame upward and away from said driving roll suiiiciently said reel will rest upon said floor and may be rolled beneath said idler roll to and from said machine.

2. The reeling machine set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said auxiliary frame comprising side members respectively extending above opposite sides of said base frame and extending at an angle thereto and parallel to each other, bearing members respectively adjustably movable along said auxiliary frame members substantially equally to support said idler roll parallel ly to said driving roll in all positions of adjustment relative thereto, and means interconnected to said bearing members and operable to move the same simultaneously along said auxiliary frame members, thereby to move said idler roll toward and from said driving roll and toward and from the floor surface.

3. The reeling machine set forth in claim 1 further including transversely spaced vertical members extending upward from one end of said base frame and interengaging said auxiliary frame adjacent the outer end thereof to support said outer end of said auxiliary frame above said base frame a distance greater than the diameter of a reel to be positioned within said machine, whereby said idler roll may be moved toward the outer end of said auxiliary frame and thereby be supported a sufficient distance above a floor surface to permit rolling said reel thereunder. I k I 4. A reeling machine for handling relatively large'size reels for cable and the. comprising in combination; a base. frame. positionable upon a floor surface, upstanding means extending upward from said basefrarne, a driving roll supported. at oppositeendsby said base frame for rotation adjacent said floor surface, means con: nected to said driving roll to drive it, an idler rollmounted for rotation in parallel relationship to said driving roll, an auxiliary frame adjustably supporting said idler roll for parallel movement thereon relative to said driving roll, means operable to move said idler roll adjustably along said auxiliary frame toward and from said driving roll to vary the space therebetween and the positions at which the periphery of a reel is engaged respectively by said rolls, and means adjustably carried by said upstanding means for vertical movement and supporting one end only of said auxiliary frame for movement relative to said base frame to elevate said idler roll thereon above the floor a greater distance than the diameter of said reel, whereby when said idler roll is elevated as aforesaid said reel may be rolled beneath said idler roll.

5. A reeling machine for handling relatively large size reels for cable and the like comprising in combination, a base frame positionable upon a floor surface, upstanding means extending substantially vertically from one end of said base frame, a driving roll supported at opposite ends by said base frame adjacent the other end thereof for rotation adjacent said floor surface, means connected to said driving roll to drive it, an idler roll mounted for rotation in parallel relationship to said driving roll, an auxiliary frame pivotally interconnected at one end to said base frame and adjustably supporting said idler roll for parallel movement therealong relative to said driving roll, means operable to move said idler roll adjustably along said auxiliary frame toward and from said driving roll to vary the space therebetween and the positions at which the periphery of a reel is engaged respectively by said rolls for support thereby, and means adjustably carried by said upstanding means and supporting the other end of said auxiliary frame for movement above the floor to elevate said idler roll a greater distance than the diameter of said reel, whereby when said idler roll is moved as aforesaid said reel maybe rolled beneath said idler roll and from said machine.

6. The reeling machine set forth in claim 5 further including screw means rotatably carried by said upstanding means and operable to elevate said other end of said auxiliary frame.

7. The reeling machine set forth in claim 6 further including common drive means for said screws operable to rotate the same simultaneously.

8. The reeling machine set forth in claim 6 further including drive means carried by said upstanding means and connected commonly to said screws, said drive means being operable to rotate said screws simultaneously to elevate said other end of said auxiliary frame and the idler roll carried thereby.

9. A reeling machine for handling relatively large size reels for cable and the like comprising in combination, a base frame positionable upon a floor surface and comprising a pair of spaced and substantially parallel frame members, a driving roll supported at opposite ends by said frame between said frame members for rotation adjacent said floor surface, means connected to said driving roll to drive it, an idler roll mounted for rotation in parallel relationship to said driving roll, an auxiliary frame comprising a pair of spaced and substantially parallel frame members extending respectively at an angle upward and away from said base frame members and driving roll and adjustably supporting said idler roll between said auxiliary frame members for parallel movement relative to said said auxiliary frame and idler roll adjustably above the 8 floor, whereby when said supporting means and idler roll are positioned a greater distance above the floor than the diameter of said reel, said reel may be rolled upon the floor between'the several frame members and beneath said idler roll to remove the same from said machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Valentine et a1. Feb. 9, 1932 Saliba June 1, 1954 

